^^i:g^3Q;g;:^a;^g^Q3(^c;g^-, 



|.i!BRARY OF CONGRESS, i 

5^ 5Ae//X^JS4'- i 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. \ 






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A Christmas Ballad, 







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New York : 
s. r. wells, publisher. 

1870. 










Entered nccsvding to Act of Congress, in tbe year 1869, by 

SAMUEL R. WELLS, 

io the Clerk's office of thr District Court of the United States for the 

Southerii District of New York, 




Thb Taow &. Smith Book Manuf'g Co., Pbistehb, 

46, 43, 50 ORBENS STBUKT, NEW TORK. 






t$o Benny, in ;j?ai;adise, 

^ h i 8 i^ i m p 1 e B h y m e 

Inspired by a Loveliness of (^empejj, 

h i c h :| i p e n e d into a (|5 h a i| a c t e tj 

(^00 Beautiful foi| this Moijld 

il s I n 8 c i| i b e d by, 

l^xs ftijotheti. 














T.2? 






Illustrations, 



1. Benny's Prayer — ■ 



" God bess fader ; God bess moder ; 

God bess sister ;" — then a pause, — 
And the sweet young lips devoutly, 

Murmured " God bess Santa Kaus." 

2. Asleep — 

And I bend above him, weeping 
Thankful tears, oh, Undefiled ! 

For a woman's crown of glory. 
For the blessing of a child. 

Artist, Mr. F. A. CHAPMAN, Engraver, Mr. Wm. Howland. 





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Illustrations. 



3. Harney's Frolic — 



" But the kitten there before me, 

With his white paw, nothing loth, 

Sat, by way of entertainment. 

Slapping off the shining froth." 



4, Benny's Indignation 

" Santa Kaus ! come down de chimney, 
Make my moder 'have hersef." 








HAD told him, Christmas morning, 
As he sat upon my knee, 
Holding fast his little stockings. 

Stuffed as full as full could be. 
And attentive listening to me 

With a face demure and mild, 
That good Santa-Klaus, who filled them. 
Does not love a naughty child. 










lUT we'll be good, won't we, Moder?" 
And from off my lap he slid, 
Digging deep among the goodies 
In his crimson stockings hid; 
While I turned me to my table 

Where a tempting goblet stood 
Brimming high with dainty egg-nog 
Sent me by a neighbour good. 










lUT the kitten, there before me 

With his white paw, nothing loth, 
Sat, by way of entertainment 

Slapping off the shining froth ; 
And in not the gentlest humour 

At the loss of such a treat, 
I confess I rather rudely 

Thrust him out into the street. 





VS. 






'HEN how Benny's blueeyes kindled! 

Gathering up the precious store 
He had busily been pouring 
In his tiny pinafore, 
With a generous look that shamed me 

Sprang he from the carpet bright, 
Showing by his mien indignant 
All a baby's sense of right. 








OME back, Harney .'"called he loudly 



As he held his apron white, 
"You sail have my candy wabbit!' 
But the door was fastened tight ; 
So he stood, abashed and silent 

In the centre of the floor 
With defeated look alternate 

Bent on me and on the door. 








HEN, as from a sudden impulse 

Quickly ran he to the fire, 
And while eagerly his bright eyes 
Watched the flames go high and higher, 
In a brave clear key he shouted 

Like some lordly little elf, 
*' Santa Kaus ! Come down de chimney 
Make my moder 'have hersef!" 








will be a good girl, Benny," 
Said I, feeling the reproof, 
And straightway recalled poor Harney 
Mewing on the gallery roof; 
Soon the anger was forgotten, 

Laughter chased away the frown, 
And they played beneath the live-oaks 
Till the dusky night came down. 








my dim firelighted. chamber 
Harney purred beneath my chair, 
my play-worn boy beside me 
Knelt to say his evening prayer: 
"God bess Fader, — God bess Moder, 

God bess Sister," — then a pause, 
And the sweet young lips devoutly 
Murmured "God bess Santa Kaus !*' 







y 




E is sleeping; — brown and silken 
Lie the lashes long and meek 
CiiX-^aJ.Like caressing clinging shadows 

On his plump and peachy cheek ; 
And I bend above him, weeping 
Thankful tears, oh Undefiled! 
For a woman's crown of glory, 
For the blessing of a child ! 






